“Congrats, Gwen,” he says. He pauses. “I… I am very sorry about Marina. I just heard about it.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly, surprised that he even remembers her name.
On the way to the private dining room, Maddox catches me up on what‘s happened since I left. Fortunately, Daniel is safe, although they suspected him, too. Since he didn’t have the finances to help me, and his mate vouched for him, he is not in the spotlight anymore.
“I am relieved,” I say. “Though it still doesn’t make sense to me why they bother.”
“All of us are surprised,” Elden says.
“I should have protected you much more,” Maddox tells me. “I am sorry I acted so late.”
“Well, thanks to you, I was able to run and meet Felix. It would have been impossible without you.”
“Still…” Maddox’s voice trails off, and he has that signature look in his eyes again.
“Did they realize some of your money was missing?” Elden asks.
Maddox is silent for a long while, again. “It doesn’t matter,” he says.
Gwen,Elden links me.What is he hiding?
I don’t know,I admit.But I remember that Daniel used to say it was like he was walking on eggshells all the time.
I thought so. Let’s hope he is right, and he really is safe.
You think he isn’t?
Elden is quiet.I am not sure. My gut feeling says he’s been trying to remain in the shadows for a reason.
forty-two
Time to Act
*FELIX*
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought this is how the day would play out. I didn’t know what to expect from Maddox, but when I saw him, he was surprisingly polite, and even more surprisingly quiet. Liam is a composed man; he is an introvert, but he has a completely different aura in comparison to Maddox. He pulls people in, and his presence is commanding, whereas Maddox, despite being an alpha’s heir, looks almost detached.
The only moment when he actually looked lively was when he met Charlie.
Now that the day comes to an end, we take a moment to discuss all the things that have happened today and Maddox in particular.
“I have no idea what to make of him,” Celine says. Our whole meeting went surprisingly smoothly, because Maddox was ready to do whatever needed to be done. He doesn’t know anything about Marina’s mate, but he is sure his father knows more, meaning he will snoop around the pack.
Now he is outside, talking to Charlie.
Liam taps his lips. “I don’t feel comfortable having him handle this on his own.”
“Me neither,” Dad agrees.
“Because you don’t trust him?” I ask.
“I am not sure.” Dad frowns. “I don’t thinktrustis the right word.”
“He looks tired,” Aurelia agrees. “In that state, he might make mistakes.”
“I always watch how young future alphas like him treat female wolves of high rank,” Liam says. “And how they handle a female alpha like Celine.”
“He didn’t seem to mind,” Celine says.
